“America’s Got Talent” has officially reached the finale, with 11 acts vying for $1 million and a headlining slot in Las Vegas.
As Deseret News previously reported, here’s a breakdown of all the acts that secured a spot in the finals.
Who will take part in the 2023 “AGT” finale?
Lavender Darcangelo
Lavender Darcangelo was a strong contender from the start and received a golden buzzer from “AGT” judge Heidi Klum during the casting round, Deseret News reported.
Before Darcangelo’s “AGT” audition, which has more than 4 million views on YouTube, Darcangelo told the show’s judges that she is blind and autistic and that she would like to one day start a school with classes that cater to children’s specific interests – a school She said she did well in it.
Before she performed Irene Cara’s “Out Here On My Own,” Darcangelo introduced the judges to her father, who adopted her several years after they met in an after-school music program he created. Darcangelo’s father and his husband Jamie beamed with pride as their daughter performed and received a massive standing ovation from the audience and judges.
“It was a sensation,” said Simon Cowell. “Honestly, everything about it was just magical. You have such talent, you have such a great personality, and you know what, we do the show because we occasionally meet people like you. And I’m so happy that you came on our show to share your talent with us because this is an audition that I will never forget. It was wonderful.”
Sofia Vergara said she was so engrossed in the performance that she forgot she was supposed to be judging. And Klum was so moved that she gave Darcangelo her golden buzzer so that the contestant could immediately go to the live part of the show.
“I feel like I just fell in love,” Klum said. “And you know this ‘AGT’ journey is an amazing journey. And I would love to be your cheerleader and hold your hand until the finish line.”
During her appearance on the live shows, Darcangelo sang “I Want to Know What Love is” by Foreigner.
Adrian Stoica and Hurricane
When he first took the stage on America’s Got Talent, Adrian Stoica told the show’s judges that he was “playing with his dog.” What transpired was a comedic routine in which Stoica would wake up in the morning and try to prepare for the day with his dog Hurricane helping him – and sometimes interfering.
Mandel called it one of his favorite dog acts of all time.
For the semifinals, Stoica and Hurricane performed a routine in which Stoica attempts to do yard work – a comedic bit that led the judges to proclaim the act was “Vegas-ready,” according to entertainment site Gold Derby.
Ahren Belisle
Ahren Belisle is fairly new to the world of comedy, but that hasn’t put him at any disadvantage on America’s Got Talent. The 28-year-old comedian, who is an engineer by day, racked up two million views on YouTube with his audition and is now set for the show’s finale.
During his “AGT” audition, Belisle shared that he dabbled in comedy last year when he attended a comedy show in Portugal and ended up making all the comics laugh. Belisle, who has cerebral palsy, uses text-to-speech for his standup routines – something he says works to his advantage because it builds tension while people wait for his punchlines.
In his routines, Belisle talks about disabilities and mental health.
“It’s important to me to spread the lessons I’ve learned and try to make things better not just for me but for everyone else,” he recently told Parade. “For me, comedy is a way to let people into my world. I share my experiences and show them what it was like to be myself. I definitely plan on expanding it. I think every comic I look up to talks about what it was like to be her and finds a way to bring joy to it, and that’s what I want to do.”
After his audition, “AGT” judge Sofia Vergara said she hopes Belisle is “the only comedian to finally win ‘AGT.’
“I can’t believe you’ve only been doing this for a year,” Judge Howie Mandel added. “Because you seem to have a sense of timing and humor. You open up the conversation and normalize humanity and originality, and you’re funny. I think, sir, you won’t be doing engineering much longer. I think you will be working full-time. That’s my prediction.”
mumble
Murmuration, a group of 65 dancers from France who performed a blindfolded show in perfect synchronization, received a golden buzzer from Mandel during the audition round.
“Wow, I mean, you were so incredibly in sync – even if you couldn’t see anything,” said “AGT” juror Heidi Klum. “And there are so many of you. But it was so elegant with so much grace. I thought it was fantastic.”
Vergara said it reminded her in some ways of the dance group Mayyas, a group from Lebanon that won last season of “AGT.”
“I was fascinated,” Mandel added before presenting the group with his golden buzzer. “I find what you do hypnotic and I find it very original. I think it’s almost more awesome when you have a big group of people and the movements are smaller but perfect. It blew me away.”
Mandel’s enthusiasm for the group continued even after their appearance in the live shows.
“You have to be in the finals!” he exclaimed.
Mzansi Youth Choir
During the 2021 season of “AGT,” singer-songwriter Jane Marczewski — who performs under the stage name Nightbirde — took the stage and performed an original song titled “It’s OK.”
The song chronicled the past year of the 31-year-old singer’s life. At the time of her audition, Nightbirde had a 2% chance of survival because cancer was found in her lungs, spine and liver, the Deseret News previously reported.
“Two percent is not 0%,” she said during her audition clip, which has so far racked up 62 million views on YouTube. “Two percent is something, and I wish people knew how great that is.”
Before singing “It’s OK,” Nightbirde told the judges, “It’s important for everyone to know that I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me.”
The singer later withdrew from the competition as her cancer “worsened”. According to NBC.com, she died in February 2022. But her one appearance on “AGT” had a far-reaching impact.
This season, the Mzansi Youth Choir from South Africa took the stage and sang “It’s OK”. The singers said the song was “a pillar of strength” for them and that Nightbirde heard their recording before her death and “responded to it so wonderfully,” the Deseret News previously reported.
“I will always remember Nightbirde,” said “AGT” judge Howie Mandel. “And to see that it touched people on the other side of the world – incredible.”
Simon Cowell – who has called Nightbirde his favorite golden buzzer act in “AGT” history – was visibly emotional after the choir performed the song.
“I know how much that would have meant to her,” he said, according to the Deseret News. “Until the end, she was passionate about sharing her music and it went around the world and you’ve come back here with an incredible tribute. Honestly, it was just breathtaking.”
In the background, the audience’s chants of “Golden Buzzer” grew louder, prompting “AGT” to allow the audience to award a Golden Buzzer for the first time in show history.
“That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” Mandel told the choir as gold confetti rained down on the stage.
During their performance at the live shows on September 5, the choir performed “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac.
“I think this act is spectacular,” Cowell said. “Your energy and the way you perform just captivates you.”
Putri Ariani
Before she sat down at the piano to sing, Putri Ariani, a 17-year-old singer from Indonesia, told the “AGT” jury that this was her first time in the United States and that she hoped to attend Juilliard and ultimately win Grammy Awards, the Deseret News previously reported.
“My biggest challenge is that people only see me as a blind person and not as a musician,” she told “AGT” producers before her performance. “But when I sing, I feel like a superstar.”
After Ariani’s performance – which led to an enthusiastic standing ovation – Cowell left his chair behind the judges’ table and took the stage.
“Your voice is great,” he told Ariani’s father before asking for another song.
Ariani was happy to oblige and played Elton John’s “Sorry Those to be the Hardest Word”. After the teenager’s final note, the audience appeared to sit stunned for a few seconds before breaking into applause.
“We are all fascinated by you, your voice,” “AGT” juror Sofia Vergara told the emotional contestant. “You’re an angel.”
“A lot of people don’t believe in angels, and I think one just landed on our stage,” Mandel added. “You’re a superstar.”
When Ariani revealed that the first song she performed at the audition was actually an original, she received another huge standing ovation.
Before hitting his golden buzzer for Ariani, Cowell, who was visibly stunned, praised the teenager’s “amazing, distinctive voice.” At one point, he told the teenager backstage that she was “one of the best singers” they had ever had on the show.
“I’m overwhelmed,” he said.
Ariani was one of seven acts to receive the coveted golden buzzer, which sends acts directly to the live portion of the show, the Deseret News reported.
During her performance at the live shows on September 5, Ariani performed U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” In less than a day, it racked up nearly 3 million views on YouTube. To date it has 4.7 million views.
“I’m really speechless right now,” Cowell said. “That’s why I still do this job, for moments like this.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything more beautiful in my life,” Vergara added.
Chibi unit
Before the final casting episode of season 18, all golden buzzers had been awarded. But then the dance team Chibi Unity took the stage.
The dancers from Japan – who were the final auditions of the season – wowed the judges and audience with their synchronization and energetic performances.
“The dance category on ‘AGT’ for Season 18 is off the charts, but you’ve taken it to another level,” said Howie Mandel. “The emotions that arise when dancing are inspiring. You added everything. It was so wonderful. I loved the speed, the skill and the movements you had. I would like to see you do an hour-long show in Las Vegas.”
“AGT” judge Sofia Vergara — who awarded dance group Mayyas their golden buzzer last season (the dance group ended up winning) — told Chibi Unity it was “the perfect ‘AGT’ audition.”
“I got goosebumps and my heart was racing,” she said. “It was the best dance I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Cowell was so impressed by the performance that he called presenter Terry Crews on stage and, along with his fellow judges, presented the dance group with a surprise golden buzzer.
“You are going to make this season very special,” Cowell told the dancers as gold confetti swirled around them.
The group continued to wow the judges during the live shows, delivering a performance that kept all four judges on their toes.
“You didn’t disappoint,” said Heidi Klum. “You gave us so many special moments.”
“I could watch you guys perform for hours,” Sofia Vergara added. “That was excellent.”
Anna DeGuzman
Anna DeGuzman was visibly nervous during her performances on “AGT” — so much so that she was actually surprised when she pulled off her magic performance in her audition. But her unique card tricks and engaging personality got audiences excited about her performance and earned her a place in the finale.
Deguzman, 24, has been practicing magic for five or six years, she told judges during her audition, which has been viewed more than two million times on YouTube. During her audition, she showed off her entertaining way of shuffling cards and performed a few tricks, including throwing the deck and catching the card Mandel chose in her mouth.
“It was the most enchanting and fun magical thing I’ve seen so far this season,” Mandel said.
DeGuzman continued to show off her card tricks during the live shows – and amazed the judges.
“I think you have a great career ahead of you,” Vergara said.
Ramadan brothers
The Ramadhani brothers stunned — and terrified — the “AGT” judges and audience throughout their competition. After their audition, which involved a man climbing up and down a ladder while balancing the other man on his head, Simon Cowell said it was “unbelievable”.
“This is the most amazing balancing thing I’ve ever seen,” Cowell said midway through the head-balancing act. After it was over, the judge said it was “as close to perfection” as he had seen on the show over the years.
“This is the scariest, most dangerous act I’ve ever seen on ‘America’s Got Talent,'” Howie Mandel added. “I’m speechless.”
For their appearance in the live show, the brothers used a blindfold and later two ladders. Cowell called it “fascinating” and described it as a $1 million operation.
The 82nd Airborne Division All American Chorus
The 82nd Airborne Division All American Chorus, a group from North Carolina, dedicated its audition performance to Elijah Crawford, a recently deceased comrade, “and all the soldiers who died before him.”
The group surprised the judges when they opened up, began dancing and singing, and performed a performance of “My Girl” by The Temptations. The element of surprise continued into the live shows as they performed “I Am Here” by Pink.
“Thank you for your service. And thank you also for not making an obvious song. I mean, that’s a Pink song that you executed with the perfect lyrics,” Cowell said with a big smile, calling the group one of his Favorite acts this season.
avant-garde
Avantgardey, a dance group of 20 girls from Osaka, Japan, won the Instant Save vote and secured the final spot in the finals. The group impressed with their unique look and choreography throughout the competition.
“They are so incredibly in sync and really think outside the box. I really feel like I’ve seen your Japanese soul,” Klum said during the audition, which has more than 4.5 million views on YouTube.
“That was brilliant,” Cowell said. “I’m really, really, really glad you came all the way from Japan to here, so thank you.”
The judges were also enthusiastic about Avantgardey’s performance in the live show.
“You’re so good! You look like 20 puppets that suddenly come to life. “You’re different from all the other dancers because of that unique look and the unique moves you do,” Klum said. “One of my favorite dance groups.”